Years ago it seemed like every typist was complaining of something called “carpal tunnel syndrome.” Then there was a rash of backaches and headaches. Now it’s a new malady called “computer vision syndrome and digital eye fatigue.” Can ergonomic furniture for office really help with all these worker complaints?
The answer to that question is a big “yes, ” according to workplace studies conducted over the past 20 years. Many businesses today are opting for workplace evaluations to determine the best ergonomic furniture for office for their employees. These evaluations aren’t just for employees’ comfort, either. Ergonomics refers to how people, their equipment and their workplace environment relate to one another. While scorned at first, ergonomics has proven itself as a reliable method to improve productivity and performance on the job.
The rise of computer use by business has been a major driving force behind the increased use of functional analysis for ergonomic furniture for office. Constant typing to enter and retrieve information from a computer, looking at a brightly lit computer screen all day, and sitting for long hours while working on a computer all have taken a toll on workers, often leading to a rise in worker’s compensation claims. As a result, employers are taking seriously the benefits that ergonomic furniture for office can bring to their businesses.
The key element in an ergonomic office design is the task chair. Long gone are the days when any old chair would do for working at a desk. Today an optimum ergonomic environment requires that chairs be chosen for how well they fit a person’s body type, how adjustable they are and how sturdy they are. A chair that accommodates a tall person wouldn’t be the kind of chair that’s right for a shorter person.
In addition, each worker probably will have different needs for how the chair can be adjusted. The one thing that all ergonomic office chairs have in come is that they should be balanced on five wheels, not the typical four, so that they’re less likely to tip over when a person moves.
Ergonomic office desks are much different from the massive wooden furniture installed in the past. Desks are now selected after a chair is picked out, so that the height of the desk matches that of the chair. As with our taller employee, his desk would have to be raised on blocks to match the height of his chair, while the desk of his more petite colleague might have to be shortened to meet her ergonomic requirements. What’s most important is that the desk set at a height so that either worker’s elbows rest at a 90-degree angle when typing on the computer. This reduces the strain that leads to repetitive motion injuries.
Speaking of computers, monitors are another piece of equipment where ergonomic analysis can improve function. In general, monitors should be sized so that a worker doesn’t have to swivel back and forth to see all of the screen. Plus, workers who use the telephone regularly when working on computers should be equipped with headsets so that they don’t have to hold the telephone pressed between shoulder and ear.
Adding ergonomic furniture for office can help a business operate more efficiently
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